Saturday, March 17, 2007

China - A Helping Hand

Since the retreat of European imperialistic powers from Africa, the mostly impoverished continent has been dealing with the most treacherous of times. Lack of modern education, the AIDS epidemic, and violent dictators and rebels who fight them are just a fraction of what Africans have to deal with in their daily life.

But that could all change. Africa, a widely assumed “resourceless” area by economists and the general public, has sprouted up as an oil gold mine. Countries like Nigeria, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Burundi, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Eritrea have been exporting billions of dollars worth of it.

Who is behind this great turnaround? Is it the U.S? No, it isn’t them as they made the Middle East their source for oil. Could it be Russia? You’re getting warm, but once again it’s a no. The U.K, France, Germany, Spain? No, no, no and no.

It’s the super power, communistic, and a menace to the U.S, China.

The vastly growing population of China is going through an immensely important period of modernization. That modernization requires a large amount of oil to support their new ways so they selected Africa for their oil supply. A choice that has made many African leaders and citizens very happy.

Because of China’s investment in African oil, Africa’s economy registered an economic growth of 5.2 percent in 2005. The continents highest level ever.

African nations are enthusiastic that Chinese demand has pushed up oil prices, says Princeton Lyman, adjunct senior fellow for Africa studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Chinese firms have also built roads, bridges, and dams in previously impoverished and rural areas. The civic constructions are also much safer and built much faster than that of what the African governments have produced.

China has even eliminated 10 billion dollars worth of debt from some specific African nations records. Many Africans are now enrolling in Chinese training centers and Chinese universities.

China has also attempted to thwart violence that has been entangling Africa for many years. In 2004, China sent 1,500 peacekeepers to UN missions across the continent. Not only has China sent military force but they have also sent doctors to treat thousands of Africans.

Overall, even though this support may be unintended and only as a result of China’s search for global resource supremacy, this will certainly give the previously damaged area a shot at becoming a continent filled with successful and prosperous states.

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